Passenger in stolen truck picks up drug-related charges, conviction

A Yellville man who was a passenger in a stolen pickup truck in which drug paraphernalia was found has pled no contest to charges filed against him stemming from the incident. He was put on probation for two years during a session of Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday.

Forty-four-year-old Cody Lance Merriman was one of four occupants in the vehicle which had been reported stolen from Milan, Tenn.

Baxter County Sheriff's office investigators had been tipped in late August last year the truck had been seen in the Cotter and Gassville areas.

The vehicle was spotted by investigators as it pulled into a Cotter convenience store.

According to the probable cause affidavit, the investigators noted the once red vehicle had received a less than professional white paint job, and there were obvious signs the truck had been "hot wired." When the vehicle identification number was checked, it was confirmed the truck was the one reported stolen in Tennessee.

Investigators found a glass smoking pipe in the area where Merriman had been sitting, and he was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.